Cleaning tool with cleaning pad having a non-woven fiber bundle on both sides

Abstract

A flexible cleaning tool ( 22 ) is disclosed. The cleaning tool ( 22 ) includes a handle ( 24 ) connected to an elongated flexible support member ( 26 ) that includes a plurality of discrete, rotatably interconnected segments ( 40 ). A cleaning pad ( 28 ) encloses the support rod ( 26 ).

1. A cleaning device comprising:
 a handle; 
 a cleaning pad support member having a plurality of rotatably interconnected segments attached to the handle at one end, wherein each segment has a rounded male end and a female end for receiving a male end of an adjacent segment; and 
 a cleaning pad having a plurality of non-woven fiber bundle layers defining a cleaning surface and a first and second base sheet defining a sleeve configured to be tightly fit over the cleaning pad support member; 
 wherein the handle comprises an integral cleaning pad support member connection portion and a rounded user holding portion; 
 wherein the cleaning pad support member has a wider width at a first end and a narrower width at a second end and further comprises an outer edge portion; and 
 wherein the cleaning surface of the cleaning pad extends about 360° around the cleaning pad support member when the cleaning pad is retained thereon. 
 
     
     
       2. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has openings at both ends such that the cleaning pad support member may be inserted into either end of the cleaning pad. 
     
     
       3. The cleaning device of  claim 2 , further comprising a retaining feature; wherein the cleaning pad is retained on the cleaning pad support member via the retaining feature. 
     
     
       4. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber bundle layers are located on outer surfaces of the first and second base sheets. 
     
     
       5. The cleaning device of  claim 4 , wherein the fiber bundle layers are bonded together and to the first and second base sheets via at least one of: a central joining portion and spot weld portions. 
     
     
       6. The cleaning device of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second base sheets are bonded to one another via a plurality of spot welds. 
     
     
       7. The cleaning device of  claim 6 , wherein at least a plurality of fibers in the fiber bundle layers are bonded to at least one of the first and second base sheets via the spot welds. 
     
     
       8. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pad is a 20 g/sqm spun lace cloth with between 1-4% mineral oil and wherein the fiber bundle layers include fibers constructed from at least one of: PP, PE and PET fibers. 
     
     
       9. A cleaning tool comprising:
 a handle; 
 a cleaning pad support member attached to the handle at one end; 
 a cleaning cloth comprised of two non-woven sheets bonded together to define a sleeve having two open ends, each non-woven sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface; 
 two fiber bundle layers, each fiber bundle layer positioned on and bonded to the outer surface of a respective nonwoven sheet; 
 a central bonding line that extends through the non-woven sheets and fiber bundle layers to bond the non-woven sheets and fiber bundle layers together, wherein the non-woven sheets are bonded such that the respective inner surfaces of the sheets are facing one another; and 
 a series of spot bonds on either side of the central bonding line that bonds the respective fiber bundles to the respective non-woven sheets; 
 wherein each fiber bundle layer extends uninterruptedly across the sleeve to define a cleaning surface extending about 360° around the cleaning pad support member when the cleaning cloth is retained thereon. 
 
     
     
       10. The cleaning tool of  claim 9 , wherein the central bonding line is a heat seal line. 
     
     
       11. The cleaning tool of  claim 9  wherein the cleaning pad support member includes a plurality of rotatably interconnected segments attached to the handle at one end, and wherein each segment has a rounded male end and a female end for receiving the male end of an adjacent segment. 
     
     
       12. A cleaning implement comprising:
 a handle having a cleaning pad support member; and 
 a cleaning cloth comprising:
 a first non-woven sheet and a second non-woven sheet, each sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface; and 
 a fiber bundle having fluffed non-woven fibers bonded to the outer surface of the first sheet at a central bonding line; 
 wherein the sheets are bonded to each other via spot joining portions positioned on either side of the central bonding line to define a sleeve for receiving the cleaning pad support member, the sleeve having openings on two ends; 
 wherein the first sheet is situated between the second sheet and the fiber bundle such that the inner surface of the first sheet faces the inner surface of the second sheet; and 
 wherein the fiber bundle extends uninterruptedly across a longitudinal axis that is substantially coaxial with the handle to provide a cleaning surface that extends about 180° around the longitudinal axis. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The cleaning implement of  claim 12 , wherein the handle comprises:
 an ergonomic holding portion; and 
 a singular cleaning cloth support member connected to the holding portion; 
 wherein the cleaning cloth support member comprises an outer edge portion. 
 
     
     
       14. The cleaning implement of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning cloth is retained on the handle via a frictional force between the outer edge portion and the sleeve. 
     
     
       15. The cleaning implement of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning cloth support member comprises a narrow insertion portion to facilitate placement of the cleaning cloth onto the support member. 
     
     
       16. The cleaning implement of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning cloth further comprises an attachment portion for retaining the cloth on the handle. 
     
     
       17. The cleaning implement of  claim 12 , wherein the fiber bundle is a first fiber bundle, and wherein the cleaning implement further comprises a second fiber bundle bonded to the outer surface of the second sheet, the second fiber bundle combining with the first fiber bundle to provide a cleaning surface that extends about 360° around the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       18. The cleaning implement of  claim 17 , wherein the central bonding line bonds the two sheets, the first fiber bundle and the second fiber bundle together.